Peeing In His Crate

[Guest GreyFan09]

Really need some help with this. We've had Comet for about 6 months now, and he never messed in the house. He has been crated when we go to work, for on average 6 - 8 hrs, a day with no problems. He's not thrilled about being in there but has come to the point where he will run in there after introducing hooves, kongs, etc. with frozen peanutbutter. Well starting last week, we have come home to find he as peed in and out of his crate, wetting his bedding and making a mess. He has been doing this every day, and I'm trying to figure out what is causing this all of the sudden.

 

He gets taken for a long walk before going in the crate and I always make sure he relieves himself to the point where his tank is empty (we hit a lot of trees), but still come home to a mess. I’ve always heard that it’s not normal for a dog to relieve itself where it sleeps, so why is he doing this all of the sudden. Also, not sure if its coincidence or not, but it started happening after we returned from a 4 day vacation and had a dog sitter at the house which didn’t go well.

 

Could this just be a phase that will pass, or perhaps some SA? I feel terrible for him that he is having to do this, and also I can’t come home and wash bedding and the surrounding floor everyday.

 

We are really stressed over this and any thoughts would be very welcome.

[Guest Adoptastar]

@adoptastar this is probably 1 of 2 things...and maybe a combination. First 6-8 hours daily in a crate is WAY too long. You might want to consider a dog walker... being in the crate may be contributing to a bladder infection...which would have your grey messing the crate. If not an infection, your grey may be trying to tell you that they would be much less anxious if they weren't in the crate all day. We never recommend more than 3-4 hours at a time in a crate.

[Guest Shana]

How much water is he drinking before going into the crate? Has he started "tanking" up lately before/after eating? That -may- be an indication to all the mess, but also -maybe- a diety concern. Why would he be drinking so much (if he is)?

 

Do you leave water in the crate while he is in there?

 

 

I dont have a solution for your issue, or an inkling why it is happening (sorry!), but I bet these questions will come up from someone else.

[Guest Swifthounds]

Well starting last week, we have come home to find he as peed in and out of his crate, wetting his bedding and making a mess. He has been doing this every day, and I'm trying to figure out what is causing this all of the sudden.

 

What has changed in his routine? Anything?

 

Also, not sure if its coincidence or not, but it started happening after we returned from a 4 day vacation and had a dog sitter at the house which didn’t go well.

 

How did the dog sitter not go well? It's possible that you being away and/or something that happened when you left is causing him anxiety.

 

@adoptastar this is probably 1 of 2 things...and maybe a combination. First 6-8 hours daily in a crate is WAY too long. You might want to consider a dog walker... being in the crate may be contributing to a bladder infection...which would have your grey messing the crate. If not an infection, your grey may be trying to tell you that they would be much less anxious if they weren't in the crate all day. We never recommend more than 3-4 hours at a time in a crate.

 

I don't use the crates routinely anymore with my crew (with the exception of illnesses or injury I use the crates only occasionally), but I'd be willing to bet a lot of greyhounds on here spend more than 3-4 hours in the crate per day. Being in the crate might be causing him stress for reasons associated with the vacation or dog walker, or he could be experiencing a medical issue. I can't imagine what about 6-8 hours in a crate, in and of itself, would cause a bladder infection or the peeing. If he were muzzled baby gated into a room while they were at work, he'd still be holding his bladder that long...

[Trihounds]

Same points from me...explore your reasons for crating and maybe give a shot without the crate (perhaps start going from baby gated in a room to slowly the whole house if things go well. Brucie destroyed a crate one day and that was our cue he didn't need to be in there anymore (was only crated 2-3 hours on an occasional basis). We no longer crate him but use the muzzle as he tends to get into things.

 

Bumper's kennel owner told me he used to wet his crate at the track, so it does happen. We've had him for a year and not once has he done that in the house. Shows how environment / behavior influence things. Good luck -

[Guest GreyFan09]

Well starting last week, we have come home to find he as peed in and out of his crate, wetting his bedding and making a mess. He has been doing this every day, and I'm trying to figure out what is causing this all of the sudden.

 

What has changed in his routine? Anything?

 

Also, not sure if its coincidence or not, but it started happening after we returned from a 4 day vacation and had a dog sitter at the house which didnt go well.

 

How did the dog sitter not go well? It's possible that you being away and/or something that happened when you left is causing him anxiety.

 

@adoptastar this is probably 1 of 2 things...and maybe a combination. First 6-8 hours daily in a crate is WAY too long. You might want to consider a dog walker... being in the crate may be contributing to a bladder infection...which would have your grey messing the crate. If not an infection, your grey may be trying to tell you that they would be much less anxious if they weren't in the crate all day. We never recommend more than 3-4 hours at a time in a crate.

 

I don't use the crates routinely anymore with my crew (with the exception of illnesses or injury I use the crates only occasionally), but I'd be willing to bet a lot of greyhounds on here spend more than 3-4 hours in the crate per day. Being in the crate might be causing him stress for reasons associated with the vacation or dog walker, or he could be experiencing a medical issue. I can't imagine what about 6-8 hours in a crate, in and of itself, would cause a bladder infection or the peeing. If he were muzzled baby gated into a room while they were at work, he'd still be holding his bladder that long...

 

Thanks so much for your responses.

 

When we first adopted him, our agency said that 6 - 8 hrs. in his crate would be no problem, and its been since August that he was fine with it. Plus, he lasts longer than that at night with no issues. I agree a dog walker would be nice, but I dont know if we could do that.

 

He drinks water with his breakfast which is several hours before going in the crate, but goes out to relieve himself at least twice in between. He would probably be very happy not to go in there, but we dont have much of an option. We really dont want to leave him loose as he had started chewing on wood (coffee table, antique rocker) in the house. We tried putting a muzzle on him, but he goes crazy with it on, banging his head against the walls and furniture tryint to get it off, which isnt a pretty site.

 

I didnt consider a medical issue. Perhaps a visit to the vet is in order.

 

The dog sitter was a nightmare. She stayed at the house with him, and he wasnt happy at all with a different person in the house (even though hes known her). He spent two days hiding in his bedroom barking and growling at her, and she could hardly get him to go outside or eat (long story). After a while it got better, but at some point he went and relieved himself in the family room, which is something he had never done before.

So, we will never do that again! I agree that it might be stress from the vacation, but I dont know. Or if it is, how to fix it. We have him back on his old routine since coming home hoping things will get back to normal.

Edited January 26, 2010 by GreyFan09

[rallyp]

You've only had him for 6 months, so the sudden change in his routine when you went away from vacation may have messed him up a little bit. It's almost like, he's finally figured things out, and then all of a sudden things have changed, and that could stress him out. However, given that he's consistently peeing in the crate and he'd been perfectly fine before, one of the first things I would have considered was if it's something medical, like a UTI. If he's still young-ish, 6-8 hours is not way too long to be crated at all.

 

Oh, and don't worry too much about getting a dog sitter in the future. Remember, this is all a learning experience for him. Some dogs are extra sensitive to having their routine changed and react a little worse than others. But that's part of his learning. He'll realize that different people can take care of him and everything will be ok. You certainly want to be able to go out of town and not worry about your dog!

Edited January 26, 2010 by rallyp

[krissn333]

Another possible alternative to the dog sitter...maybe see if there's anyone here on GT or maybe someone from your group that would be willing to greysit him while you're gone - meaning he would go to their house and be with their dogs. Still an unfamiliar situation, but, having other dogs around usually helps combat that a little.

 

I would have him checked out medically...my Fritzy NEVER pees in the house...if he starts all of a sudden, I know it's likely he has a UTI.

[Guest GreyFan09]

Thanks for the greyt information! It seems like he was doing really great and it really changed after our trip, so now we have to get him back on track. I just hope he stops the crate peeing and now doesn't think its okay to do this. He is our first Greyhound, its a constant learning experience. However, the inofrmation I get from you experienced folks on this site is a really awesome. The UTI idea is also something I will look into as well.

 

The next time we go out of town, I will certainly be putting him into a kennel, or more preferably with someone who has Greyhounds, as he does like being with other houndies. I had put a posting on the GT hound sitting thread about anyone available in our area but haven't received any replies yet. I will also contact our adoption organization and see if they know of anyone available. What a mess. Literally.

[Guest GreyFan09]

Just wanted to give an update on Comet’s crate peeing situation.

 

Monday, 6 hrs in his crate - no pee!

Tuesday, 8 hrs. in his crate - no pee!

Wednesday 6 hrs. in his crate - no pee!

 

Wednesday night my wife came home from work and let him outside, fed him dinner, let him outside again, and then crated him so she could run some errnds.. Came home 3 hrs. later and he peed in the crate. Just can’t detect a pattern here. He has a Vet appointment tomorrow.

 

Thanks again to all who replied for your help and thought on this.